Swivel unit



June 23, 1953 N. R. SCHWARTZ SWIVEL UNIT Filed Aug. 3, 1950 W INVENTOZQMMJHAW $309M? 50mm: ,1;

Patented June 23, 1953 SWIVEL UNIT Nathan Rodney Schwartz, New York, N.Y., assignor to Naras Research, Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application August 3, 1950, Serial No. 177,436

4 Claims.

This invention relates to swivel units to which objects may be attachedfor angular or rotative adjustment.

When illuminatin merchandise, or when for any other purposes, it isdesirable to mount a lamp upon a swivel socket in such manner, that thelamp may be turned angularly or rotated'on its axis and retainedin anyadjusted position.

With this in mind, it is the principal object of the present inventionto provide a swivel unit to which a lamp may be attached, the swivelunit being so constructed that it will positively and instantly retainthe lamp in any adjusted position.

It is a further feature of this invention to provide a swivel unit ofthis character, comprising broadly a housing which is adapted to retaina swivel ball therein, and a nipple engageable in the swivel ball, therebeing means provided between theswivel ball and the nipple to limit therotative movement of the nipple at slightly less than one completerevolution in either direction.

A further purpose of the present invention resides inthe provision of aswivel unit of this character, wherein pressure is exerted against thesides of the swivel ball to retainit in frictional engagement with thenipple.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofmeans integral with the housing to retain the swivel ballin the housing.

Yet another purpose of the present invention resides in the provision ofa washer at the lower end of the nipple to prevent rocking of the swivelunit when it is angularly 9r rotatively adjusted.

And a still further advantage of the present invention resides in theprovision of a slot in the housing extending from theapex of the housingto a point therebelow, the lower edge of which is rounded to produce afirm and efficient structure.

These and other meritorious aims and advantages are attained by thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafterdescribed and illustrated on the accompanying drawing, formin a materialcomponent of the present disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a swivel unit constructed inaccordance with thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the swivel unit illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a swivel unit, showing the swivelunit turned angularly with respect to its normal axis.

Figure 4 illustrates the swivel unit assembly, the View being partly insection.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the device, the section being taken online 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is another sectional View of the device, thesection being takenon line 6-4) of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is an elevational view in detail, partly in section, of theswivel socket.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a side elevationalview of a nipple used in connection withthe present invention.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a spring member used in connection with thepresent invention; and

Figure 16 is a side edge view of the spring member illustrated in Figure15.

Referring in greater detail to the present invention, the numeral 20illustrates in general a swivel unit of the kind here under discusson.It consists broadly of an externally threaded screw portion 2|, anintermediate swivel socket portion 22 and a lowermost internallythreaded, bulb receiving socket 23.

Swivel socket 22 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing 24 having arounded top, the housing 24 being provided from its apex to a pointtherebelow, with a slot 25, in which a nipple is adapted to be enteredwhich will hereinafter be more fully described, and the lower end ofslot 25 is rounded, as can be seen in Figure 1 of the drawing.

A hollow, substantially ball-shaped swivel member 26 is contained in theupper, rounded portion of housing 2 5, where it is retained in fixedposition by a plurality of indentations 21 in housin 24. Swivel member26 is substantially spherical in cross-section, and is provided onopposite sides thereof with substantially flat surfaces 26a and 2 612respectively. Extending centrally through said swivel member 26 is anipple 28 preferably made of one piece of material and provided with acentral bore 29 throughout its length for the passage of electricalwires therethrough.

Swivel member 26 contains near its upper end a ring-like disc having acentral opening therein. Extending upwardly from the said disc 60 andalong the inner wall of the said swivel member'28 is a narrow finger 3!,the purpose of which will become more fully apparent as the descriptionhereof proceeds. At its bottom, swivel member 26 is provided with anopening 32. As has heretofore been mentioned, the said swivel member hastwo opposed rounded sides 26, and two opposed somewhat flattened sides,respectively referred to by the numerals 26a and 26b. Sides 26 areclosed, and sides 26a and 26b are partly open, as at 33 as is bestillustrated in Figures 10 and 7 of the drawings respectively. The twooppositely arranged closed sides are each provided with a groove 34 eachof which is provided to constitute a track for a flat spring 36. Inorder to facilitate the insertion of the said fiat springs 36, each ofthe rounded surfaces 26 are provided with a cut-out 35 at the lower edgethereof.

Cylindrical nipple 28 comprises at its upper end a relatively short stemportion 4|, one side of which may be flattened as at 42; it is thenprovided with a sleeve portion 40, said sleeve portion terminating in aconstricted shoulder 43, the diameter of which is illustrated as beingequal to the diameter of stem 4|, said shoulder being provided with astop lug 44, the nipple finally terminating in a constricted sleeve 45.

At their lower longitudinal edges, springs 36 rest upon a washer 55 inthe interior of swivel member 26, the several elements being held inoperative engagement by turning over the lower edge 54 of nipple portion45, as at 56.

Screw portion 21, at its top, is provided with a conventional contact Itwill be seen that there has been presented a very eificient andeffective swivel unit for electrical lighting fixtures. Many importantinnovations will become apparent. For instance, the provision of stops3| and 44 will prevent the device from being continually rotated in onedirection, which would result in twisting and eventually breakingelectrical wires in the swivel unit; the spring rests are so arranged,by the provision of grooves that, in mass production, springs can beinserted with great case and efiiciency; pressure of the springs isexerted against the sides of the swivel ball, which positively preventsthe slightest movement of the swivel ball; the indentations in housing24, at 21, engage the edges of the open sides 26a. and 261) respectivelyof the swivel member 26, so that the swivel ball will be held in placefirmly and rigidly; and the provision of the washer prevents even theslightest rocking of the device, so that it will be securely held in anyadjusted position.

Many modifications can be made, and others will become apparent throughuse. For instance, instead of using four indentations 21, it may bedesirable to use only two, each of which would then have to be as Wideas each of the openings 33 in sides 26a and 2613 respectively of swivelmember 26; and whereas the swivel unit has been illustrated anddescribed as being used in connection with electrical lighting fixtures,it could obviously be used in connection with other objects. It can beused efiectively in connection with electrical fans, especially smallautomobile fans, cameras, microphones, display stands and a great manyother objects. The only modification necessary would be the eliminationof screw portion 2| and socket 23, and the substitution therefor of moresuitable connecting means.

Thus there has been discussed a highly cfiicient swivel unit in the bestknown form of its embodiment, but it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is not to be regarded as limitative or restrictive to theexact details shown and described, applicant reserving the right to makesuch changes in the construction of the device as might come within thescope of the appended claims without thereby departing either from thespirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A swivel unit comprising a hollow cylindrical housing terminating ina rounded upper portion and having a slot extending from the apex of thehousing to a point therebelow, a swivel member having a longitudinalopening through its center, said swivel member adapted to be retained inthe rounded upper portion of said housing, said swivel member having twoopposed partly open sides, means integral with said housing engagingsaid open sides to fixedly retain said swivel member in said housing, anipple, said nipple extending upwardly through said swivel member andpartly protruding upwardly therefrom, spring means located in saidswivel member exerting pressure against its sides to retain said swivelmember in frictional engagement with said nipple, a washer, said springmeans resting thereon, and means integral with said nipple retainingsaid washer in adjusted position.

2. A swivel unit comprising a hollow cylindrical housing terminating atits upper end in a rounded upper portion and having a slot extendingfrom the apex of the housing to a point therebelow, a hollow swivelmember in said rounded upper portion, means integral with said housingengaging said swivel member retaining said swivel member fixedly in saidhousing, a onepiece nipple, said nipple rotatably engaged in said swivelmember, means cooperating between said nipple and said swivel memberlimiting the rotative movement of said nipple, and spring means in saidswivel member exerting pressure against the sides of said swivel member.

3. In a swivel unit, a hollow cylindrical housing terminating at itsupper end in a rounded top and having a slot therein extending from therounded top to a point therebelow, a hollow swivel member, said swivelmember having two opposed partly open sides, said swivel member beingretained in said rounded top, means integral with said housing engagingsaid open sides retaining said swivel member in said housing, a hollowcylindrical nipple in said swivel member, means cooperating between saidnipple and said swivel member limiting the rotative movement of saidnipple, a pair of springs, means in said swivel member on opposite sidesthereof retaining said springs in said swivel member, a washer uponwhich said springs are seated edgewise, said nipple being formed with anintegral shoulder at its lower edge upon which said washer is seated.

4. A swivel unit comprising a hollow cylindrical housing terminating atits upper end in a rounded upper portion and having a slot extendingfrom the apex of said housing to a point therebelow, a hollow swivelmember in said rounded upper portion, means integral with said housingretaining said swivel member in said rounded upper portion, a hollowcylindrical nipple, said nipple rotatably retained in said swivelmember, a ring, said ring being in said swivel member near the upper endthereof, a narrow finger extending from said ring upwardly along theinner wall of said swivel member, a sleeve on said NATHAN RODNEYSCHWARTZ.

6 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber 5 897,410 1,796,009 1,992,828 2,041,847 2,298,176 10 2,546,061

Name Date Ross Sept. 1, 1908 Dunn Mar. 10, 1931 La Hodny et a1. Feb. 26,1935 Marchand May 26, 1936 Schwartz Oct. 6, 1942 Be auvais Mar. 20, 1951

